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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Lebanon
Index
Greek Catholics are the second largest Uniate community in
Lebanon. They emerged as a distinct group in the early eighteenth
century when they split from the Greek Orthodox Church. Although
they fully accept Catholic doctrines as defined by the Vatican,
they have generally remained close to the Greek Orthodox Church,
retaining more of the ancient rituals and customs than have the
Maronites. They use Arabic and follow the Byzantine rite. In
Lebanon, when one speaks of Catholics, one is referring to this
group, not to Roman Catholics or the Maronites.
The highest official of the church since 1930 has been the
Patriarch of Antioch, who resides at Ayn Traz, about twenty-four
kilometers southeast of Beirut. The patriarch is elected by bishops
in a synod and confirmed by the Pope in Rome, who sends him a
pallium (a circular band of white wool worn by archbishops) in
recognition of their communion. Greek Catholic churches, like those
of the Greek Orthodox, contain icons but no statues.
The Greek Catholics live primarily in the central and eastern
parts of the country, dispersed in many villages. Members of this
sect are concentrated in Beirut, Zahlah, and the suburbs of Sidon.
They have a relatively higher level of education than other sects.
Proud of their Arab heritage, Greek Catholics have been able to
strike a balance between their openness to the Arab world and their
identification with the West, especially the United States. Greek
Catholics constituted 3 percent of the population (72,000) in 1986.
Data as of December 1987
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